First Kentucky Show!

Post with details to follow - until then, pictures from our first Kentucky show!

 

The Results!

 

Warm up with my trainer :)

 

The 'show grounds'...are all Ky farms gorgeous?

 

Training Level Test 3

 

TL Test 3

 

Smiling during canter!

 

TL Test 3

 

Training Level Test 2 was in a grass arena - a first!

 

She was not fazed in the least by the grass arena

 

Gone are the days when Riva would try and exit the arena :)

 

Training Level Test 3 - 68.4%

 

Training Level Test 2 - 75.357%

 

Riva Diva

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fellow Bloggers

Head on over to slowandsteadysmilerwinstherace and follow her blog!  I have had the pleasure of meeting Amy and Steady in person and seeing them at shows several times.  Amy is a wonderful horsewoman and mom - her blog is always fun to read.  She is going to hold a contest when she reaches 100 followers!

Steady looking good in blue!

Dressage Radio

I have some catching up to do!  First off, Riva was cleared for full work at the last vet check and we are back at it!  We are going to our first Kentucky show a week from Saturday - just a local schooling show where we will compete Training Level Test 2 & Test 3.  So looking forward to it - last show was in May, so hope we aren't too rusty.

The past few days have been so lovely here - temps in the 70's, warm, sunny, blue skies...my favorite type of weather.  Today we hacked around the property with my daughter on a client's mare - Riva's bff - was so relaxing.  One of those rides where even though we were just walking, makes me realize how far we have come.  For Riva to walk calmly (on the bit even) around next to another mare is a huge improvement.  Where did that mare go that laid her ears back at every horse near her? 

A bit of exciting news to share - I was a guest on The Dressage Radio Show earlier this week and the episode is now posted.  Go to http://dressageradio.horseradionetwork.com/ to listen on line :)  Right now, it is the current episode.  Once a new episode is posted, I am episode # 220.  If you do not have time to listen to the entire episode, I am at the 44:00 minute marker and last till 51:33.  It is a great show to listen to and they always have training tips!

Still job hunting - but have had two really good phone interviews recently.  Hope to have something positive to post on the job front very soon!

Alexis posing at a random farm - love KY!

Walk in the Country



Last vet check, Riva still was not cleared for full work - some soreness in her right suspensory was evident.  So for the past week and a half, we have a walk only day then a light regular work day.  Pics are from one of our walk only days.  The weather the past two weeks has been lovely - more like early fall than summer.

 

Walking up the drive

 

Tobacco plants in the background! 

 

Hunter/Jumper Barn in the background - neighboring property

 

Riva tolerating our walk ride :)

 

Vet re-check this coming Monday.  Hoping for clearance for full work again and aiming for a show later in August.

 



I Won A Contest!

A huge thank you to Hillary of equestrianathart for sponsoring a give-away on her blog.  Riva is a picky eater - case in point...4 days of no eating when she did not like her new grain at our new KY barn.  She does not like peppermints and what horse does not like peppermints?

A large box arrived on my doorstep yesterday with an 8 lb bag of standleehay Whinny Nicker Horse Treats from Hillary. 

I took them out to the barn today for a taste test by the finicky Miss Diva.

She certainly liked the bag.

 

She ate it so quickly, we missed a pic of the treat in my hand.

 

Our review - Princess Riva Diva approved!

 

Thanks again Hillary and standleehay!

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Catching Up

My last post involved my anniversary, job hunting, and Riva's lameness...

1)  Anniversary celebrating was delayed due to husband's traveling for work, but we went out for a great dinner that weekend.

2)  Still job hunting...have had 4 interviews since we moved.  Turned down one job offer, declined

a second interview at two others, and didn't get offered the one I really wanted.  In the mean-

time of searching for the right job, I am going to do some volunteering at Kentucky Horse

Park and Riding for Hope at KHP (super excited about both!).

3)  Lameness update - Riva will have a final re-check by the vet this afternoon.  If all goes well,

back to full work tomorrow!

The Diva, NOT enjoying her two days of stall rest.



After a thorough lameness exam two weeks ago, re-shoeing per vet instructions by new farrier, ultra-sound last week, two days of complete stall rest, one week of 20 minute walk rides under saddle - I believe Riva is 100% sound now, but will wait for the vet's opinion later today.

It all began with a lost shoe on her club foot where she lost a good bit of hoof.  Farrier did not think her normal special steel bar shoe would stay on and went with a wedge aluminum shoe.  After two rides and two days in that shoe, she was lame on the left front and her left knee was inflamed. 

Vet came out and did a lameness exam, blocking of the left leg, and x-rays of both front feet and her left knee.  Her knee is about the same as it was two years ago - but was noticeably swollen.  He injected her knee and put her one a daily bute-like mediation and a topical anti-inflammatory cream.  He also talked with the farrier about putting her front feet back the way the were prior to the lost shoe. 

Farrier came out and re-shod both front - putting them back the way our former farrier in Indiana had them.  He was not very happy about it and said the right front was not going to stay on (week and a half later, it is still on).

Vet came back the following week to ultrasound the left lower leg, thinking their might be a suspensory injury.  Thankfully, everything looked fine on the ultrasound.  He watched her on the lunge and she was improved on the left front from the week before.

I have walked Riva under saddle her the past week - the work has been good for both of us...walking with contact is not our strong suit.  We may or may not have snuck in a trot circle each way yesterday, just to see how she is doing...I think she will pass her lameness re-exam today :)

On a whole different subject, I am going a tomato plant for the first time ever!

Took this pic last week and it has already grown past the top of the cage. Can not wait for some home-grown tomatoes!



A big thank you to Hillary of equestrianathart for holding a contest that I won!  Riva will soon be getting a bag of  Whinny Nicker Horse Treats courtesy of Standlee Hay. 

Going to be a Long Day

First up - today is our anniversary :)

 



Only problem is husband is in Mississippi for work for the week.  Will have to put off our celebration till the weekend. 
                                               There will most likely be these involved:

 



Next thing - I have an interview this afternoon that I am excited about!  Hoping all goes smoothly.  I am getting extremely bored with job hunting.

Last thing - Riva has a vet appt. late afternoon.  Lameness check.  She is off - I am thinking left front, but we will see.  Please keep her in your thoughts today that it is nothing too serious.